Connexus 8: History Unit 5 > Lesson 4: Jefferson's Presidency > Flashcards
Lesson 4: Jefferson's Presidency Flashcards
Continental Divide Definition
a ridge that separates river systems flowing toward opposite sides of a continent
Embargo Definition
a ban on trade
Expedition Definition
a long voyage of exploration
Free-enterprise System Definition
an economic system in which goods and services are exchanged on a free market with as little government interference as possible
Impressment Definition
the practice of forcing people into military service
Judicial Review Definition
the power of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional
Laissez Faire Definition
the idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs
Louisiana Purchase Definition
the vast territory extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, purchased from France in 1803
Marbury v. Madison Definition
an 1803 court case in which the Supreme Court ruled that it had the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional
Pinckney Treaty Definition
a 1795 agreement with Spain that let Americans ship their goods down the Mississippi River and store them in or ship them through New Orleans
Smuggling Definition
the act of importing or exporting goods in violation of trade laws
Tribute Definition
a payment by a weaker party to a stronger party in return for protection
In his inaugural address, what did Thomas Jefferson do to try to calm down the Federalists fears?
In his inaugural address, Jefferson tried to calm Federalists’ fears. He promised that, although the Democratic Republicans were in the majority, he would not treat the Federalists harshly. “The minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect,” he told the nation. He called for an end to the political disputes of the past few years. “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists,” the President concluded. Jefferson had no plan to punish Federalists. He did, however, want to change their policies. In his view, the Federalists had made the national government too large and too powerful.
Why did Jefferson reducing the budget of the federal government important?
One way Jefferson wanted to lessen government power was by reducing the federal budget. Such budget cuts would also keep the federal debt low. His Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin (GAL uh tin), helped him achieve this goal. A financial wizard, Gallatin reduced government spending through careful management.
What was Adam Smith’s influence on the establishments of Free-market economies?
Jefferson believed in an economic idea known as laissez faire (les ay FAYR), a French term meaning “let do,” meaning letting people do as they please. The idea of laissez faire was promoted by the Scottish economist Adam Smith. In his book The Wealth of Nations, Smith argued in favor of a system of free markets, where goods and services are exchanged between buyers and sellers with as little government interference as possible. Free competition, Smith said, would benefit everyone, not just the wealthy.
What was the difference between Federalist economists and Laissez Faire economists?
Laissez faire economists believed that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs. Laissez faire was very different from the Federalist idea of government. Alexander Hamilton, you recall, wanted government to promote trade and manufacturing.
What were some actions that Jefferson took during his presidency? What did Jefferson believe about government?
Jefferson believed that the government should protect the rights of its citizens. Beyond that, he wanted the federal government to take a less active role in governing the nation. In addition to cutting the federal budget, he decreased the size of government departments. With the approval of Congress, he reduced the size of the army and navy. He also asked Congress to repeal the unpopular whiskey tax. The Sedition Act expired the day before Jefferson took office. Jefferson hated the law, and he pardoned those who were in jail because of it. He also asked Congress to restore the law allowing foreign-born white people to become citizens after only a five-year waiting period.
In what ways did Jefferson keep Federalist economic policies?
Jefferson did not discard all Federalist programs. On the advice of Albert Gallatin, he kept the Bank of the United States. The federal government also continued to pay off state debts, which it had taken over while Washington was President. In addition, Jefferson let many Federalists keep their government jobs.
What did the old Federalist Congress do during the period between Jefferson’s election and his inauguration? How did Jefferson reverse this as president? How was John Marshall?
The election of 1800 gave Democratic Republicans control of Congress. Federalists, however, remained powerful in the courts. Several months passed between Jefferson’s election and his inauguration. In that time, Federalists in the old Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801, increasing the number of federal judges. President Adams then appointed Federalists to fill these new judicial positions. When Jefferson took office, Jeffersonians repealed this part of the act, firing 16 Federalist judges by abolishing their offices. One of the judges that Adams appointed was John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the United States. Like Jefferson, Marshall was a rich Virginia planter with a brilliant mind. Unlike Jefferson, however, Marshall was a staunch Federalist. He wanted to make the federal government stronger. The framers of the Constitution expected the courts to balance the powers of the President and Congress. However, John Marshall found the courts to be much weaker than the other branches of government. In his view, it was not clear what powers the federal courts had.
What were the issues behind Marbury v. Maddison?
In 1803, John Marshall showed courage and leadership by deciding a case that increased the power of the Supreme Court. The case involved William Marbury, one of the judges appointed by Adams. Adams made the appointment on his last night as President. The Republicans refused to accept this “midnight judge.” They accused Federalists of using unfair tactics to keep control of the courts. Jefferson ordered Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver the official papers confirming Marbury’s appointment. Marbury sued Madison. According to the Judiciary Act of 1789, only the Supreme Court could decide a case that was brought against a federal official. Therefore, the case of Marbury v. Madison was tried before the Supreme Court.
What was the influence of Marbury v. Maddison?
The Supreme Court ruled against Marbury. Chief Justice Marshall wrote the decision, stating that the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional. The Constitution, Marshall argued, did not give the Supreme Court the right to decide cases brought against federal officials. Therefore, Congress could not give the Court that power simply by passing the Judiciary Act. As a result of Marbury v. Madison, Congress had to amend, or change, the Judiciary Act to respond to the Supreme Court’s objections. The part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 that the Supreme Court rejected could no longer be law. The Supreme Court’s decision in Marbury v. Madison set an important precedent. It gave the Supreme Court the power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional and to reject laws that it considered to be unconstitutional. This power of the Court is called judicial review.
How to Thomas Jefferson and Congress react to the decision of the Supreme Court?
Jefferson was displeased with the decision. True, Marshall had ruled against Marbury, the Federalist judge.
But Marshall’s decision gave more power to the Supreme Court, where Federalists were still strong. Jefferson also argued that the decision upset the balance of power among the three branches of government:
The opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves … but for the Legislature and Executive also … would make the Judiciary a [tyrannical] branch.
—Thomas Jefferson, letter to Abigail Adams, 1804
Jefferson did not want the judiciary to gain power over the executive branch. He refused the Court’s order to testify at an important trial, saying it would upset the equality of the branches. He also used executive privilege to decide which government papers to show the Court and which to withhold. In the end, the President and Congress accepted the right of the Court to overturn laws. Today, judicial review remains one of the most important powers of the Supreme Court.
True or False: As the economy continued to grow, Americans needed to protect their economic interests. The Louisiana Territory became a key part of this effort.
True
How many American’s lived in the area between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River? Why was the Mississippi important? What threat did Napoleon propose? When did Haitians gain their independence?
A new development caused President Jefferson to pursue buying New Orleans in order to control this important port. By 1800, almost one million Americans lived between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. Most were farmers. With few roads west of the Appalachians, western farmers relied on the Mississippi River to ship their wheat and corn. First, they sent their produce down the river to the city of New Orleans. From there, oceangoing ships carried the produce across the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida, and up to ports along the Atlantic coast.Spain, which controlled New Orleans, sometimes threatened to close the port to Americans. In 1795, President Washington sent Thomas Pinckney to find a way to keep the vital port open. In the Pinckney Treaty, Spain agreed to let Americans ship their goods down the Mississippi and store them in New Orleans. For a time, Americans shipped their goods through New Orleans peacefully. In 1800, however, Spain signed a new treaty giving Louisiana back to the French. President Jefferson was alarmed. He knew that the French ruler, Napoleon Bonaparte, had already set out to conquer Europe. Would he now try to build an empire in North America? Jefferson had reason to worry. Napoleon wanted to grow food in Louisiana and ship it to French islands in the West Indies. However, events in Haiti, a French colony in the Caribbean, soon ruined Napoleon’s plan. Inspired by the French Revolution, enslaved Africans in Haiti decided to fight for their liberty. Toussaint L’Ouverture (too SAN loo vehr TYOOR) led the revolt. By 1801, Toussaint and his followers had nearly forced the French out of Haiti. Napoleon sent troops to retake Haiti. Although the French captured Toussaint, they did not regain control of the island. In 1804, Haitians declared their independence.
How did the negotiation process for Louisiana go?
Jefferson sent Robert Livingston and James Monroe to buy New Orleans and West Florida from Napoleon. Jefferson said they could offer as much as $10 million. Livingston and Monroe negotiated with Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the French foreign minister. At first, Talleyrand showed little interest in their offer. However, losing Haiti caused Napoleon to give up his plan for an empire in the Americas. He also needed money to pay for his costly wars in Europe. Suddenly, Talleyrand asked Livingston if the United States wanted to buy all of Louisiana, not just New Orleans. The question surprised Livingston. He offered $4 million. “Too low,” replied Talleyrand. “Reflect and see me tomorrow.” Livingston and Monroe carefully debated the matter. They had no authority to buy all of Louisiana. However, they knew that Jefferson wanted control of the Mississippi. They agreed to pay the French $15 million for Louisiana. “This is the noblest work of our whole lives,” declared Livingston when he signed the treaty. “From this day the United States take their place among the powers of the first rank.”
Why did Jefferson contemplate about buying Louisiana? What did he end up cuncluding?
Jefferson hailed the news from France. Still, he was not sure whether the President had the power to purchase Louisiana. He had always insisted that the federal government had only those powers spelled out in the Constitution. The document said nothing about a President having the power to buy land. In the end, Jefferson decided that he did have the authority to buy Louisiana. The Constitution, he reasoned, allowed the President to make treaties, and buying the Louisiana territory was part of a treaty. Federalists opposed the purchase as unconstitutional and feared it would weaken the other states. But the Democratic Republicans supported it and the Senate approved the treaty. The Louisiana Purchase went into effect. In 1803, the United States took control of the vast lands west of the Mississippi. With one stroke, the size of the nation had almost doubled.
What was the purpose of the expedition into the Louisiana Territory? What did Thomas Jefferson want to know from it?
Few Americans knew anything about the Louisiana territory. In 1803, Congress provided money for a team of explorers to study the new lands. Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis, his private secretary, to head the expedition, or long voyage of exploration. Lewis asked William Clark to go with him. Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark to map a route to the Pacific Ocean. He also told them to study the geography of the territory, including:
… climate as characterized by the thermometer, by the proportion of rainy, cloudy, and clear days, by lightning, hail, snow, ice … the dates at which particular plants put forth or lose their flower, or leaf, times of appearance of particular birds, reptiles, or insects.
—Thomas Jefferson, letter to Meriwether Lewis, 1803
Jefferson also instructed Lewis and Clark to learn about the Native American nations who lived in the Louisiana Purchase. These Native Americans carried on a busy trade with English, French, and Spanish merchants. Jefferson hoped that the Indians might trade with American merchants instead. Therefore, he urged Lewis and Clark to tell the Indians of “our wish to be neighborly, friendly, and useful to them.”
How many men went with Lewis and Clark on their expedition? What did they call the group?
Dozens of adventurous young men eagerly competed to join the expedition. Lewis and Clark judged volunteers on the basis of their character, strength, hunting skills, and ability to survive in the wilderness. In the end, about 50 men made up the “Corps of Discovery.”
What did the Corps of Discovery do in May 1804? What challenge did the Missouri River propose?
In May 1804, Lewis and Clark started up the Missouri River from St. Louis. At first, the expedition’s boats made slow progress against the Missouri’s swift current. One night, the current tore away the riverbank where they were camping. The party had to scramble into the boats to avoid being swept downstream.
What did the Corps of Discovery do as they traveled through the plains?
Eventually the expedition reached the plains of the Midwest. Lewis and Clark marveled at the broad, grassy plains that stretched “as far as the eye can reach.” Everywhere, they saw “immense herds of buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope.” As they traveled across the plains, the expedition met people of various Native American nations. Lewis and Clark had brought many gifts for Native Americans, such as “peace medals” stamped with the United States seal. They also brought mirrors, beads, knives, blankets, and thousands of sewing needles and fishhooks.
Who did the Corps of Discovery stay with over their first winter? What did they do to prepare for the Spring? What did they learn from the group they stayed with?
During the first winter, Lewis and Clark stayed with the Mandans in present-day North Dakota. The explorers planned to continue up the Missouri in the spring. The members of the expedition built a fort to live in over the winter. They took the opportunity to repair equipment in preparation for spring’s new challenges. The Mandans lived along the upper Missouri River. They grew corn, beans, and squash, and hunted buffalo. During the winter, they helped the explorers find food and hunt buffalo. They also traded with the expedition members. Staying with the Mandans was a woman named Sacajawea (sak uh juh WEE uh). Sacajawea belonged to the Shoshone (shoh SHOH nee) people, who lived in the Rockies. She and her French Canadian husband agreed to accompany Lewis and Clark as translators. Sacajawea carried her baby with her on the journey.
How was the Corps of Discovery’s expedition in the Rockies like?
In early spring, the party set out again. In the foothills of the Rockies, the landscape and wildlife changed. Bighorn sheep ran along the high hills. The thorns of prickly pear cactus jabbed the explorers’ moccasins. Once, a grizzly bear chased Lewis while he was exploring alone.
Crossing the Rocky Mountains meant crossing the Continental Divide. A continental divide is a ridge that separates river systems flowing toward opposite sides of a continent. In North America, some rivers flow east from the crest of the Rockies into the Mississippi, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Other rivers flow west from the Rockies and empty into the Pacific Ocean. Past the Rockies, Lewis and Clark would be able to travel by river toward the Pacific. But to cross the Continental Divide, they needed horses. They began looking for the Shoshone, who had been using horses since Europeans brought them in the 1600s. Finally, Lewis and Clark met some Shoshones. One of them was Sacajawea’s brother, whom she had not seen for many years. Upon seeing her own people, wrote Clark, she began to “dance and show every mark of the most extravagant joy.” The Shoshones supplied the expedition with the food and horses Lewis and Clark needed. They also advised them about the best route to take over the Rockies.
What happened when the Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific?
After building canoes, Lewis and Clark’s party floated toward the Columbia River into the Pacific Northwest. Finally, on November 7, 1805, Clark wrote in his journal, “Great joy in camp. We are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see.” Lewis and Clark had reached their goal. Viewing the Pacific from present-day Oregon, Lewis and Clark claimed the region for the United States by right of discovery. The return trip to St. Louis took another year. In 1806, Americans celebrated the return of Lewis and Clark. Their journey had been difficult. Clark described some of the storms and high winds he faced as “the most disagreeable time I have experienced.” But the explorers brought back much useful information about the Louisiana Territory, the land now part of the United States.
What was the result of Pike’s Expedition?
Before Lewis and Clark returned, another explorer set out from St. Louis. From 1805 to 1807, Zebulon Pike explored the upper Mississippi River, the Arkansas River, and parts of present-day Colorado and New Mexico. In November 1806, Pike viewed a mountain peak rising above the Colorado plains. Today, this mountain is known as Pikes Peak. Continuing southward, Pike entered Spanish territory. Spanish troops soon arrested Pike and his men and took them into present-day Mexico. The Americans were later escorted through Texas back into the United States. The Spanish took Pike’s maps and journals, but he was able to hide one map in the barrel of his gun. His report on the expedition greatly expanded Americans’ knowledge about the Southwest. The journeys of Pike and Lewis and Clark excited Americans. However, settlers did not move into the rugged western lands for a number of years. As you will read, they first settled the region closest to the Mississippi River. Soon, the territory around New Orleans had a large enough population of American citizens for the settlers to apply for statehood. In 1812, this territory entered the Union as the state of Louisiana.
True or False: Not only did Lewis and Clark record their observations in words, they also drew maps and illustrations of the new things they encountered.
True
How did overseas trade change after the Revolution?
After the Revolution, American overseas trade grew rapidly. Ships sailed from New England on voyages that sometimes lasted three years. President Jefferson’s foreign policy during this time centered around protecting American shipping.
How was trade orchestrated in America during the New era of Trade?
Wherever they went, Yankee captains kept a sharp lookout for new goods and new markets. Clever traders sawed winter ice from New England ponds into blocks, packed it in sawdust, and carried it to India. There, they traded the ice for silk and spices. In 1784, the Empress of China became the first American ship to trade with China. New England merchants quickly built up a profitable China trade. More than 10 years before Lewis and Clark, Yankee merchants sailed up the Pacific coast of North America. So many traders from Boston visited the Pacific Northwest that Native Americans there called every white man “Boston.” Traders bought furs from Native Americans and sold them for large profits in China.
What was the American conflict with Tripoli concerning trade?
Traders ran great risks, especially in the Mediterranean Sea. Pirates from the Barbary States, countries along the coast of North Africa, attacked passing vessels. To protect American ships, the United States paid a yearly tribute, or bribe, to rulers of the Barbary States such as Tripoli. In 1801, Tripoli increased its demands. When Jefferson refused to pay, Tripoli declared war on the United States. Jefferson then ordered the navy to blockade the port of Tripoli. During the blockade, the American ship Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli. Pirates boarded the ship and hauled the crew off to prison. The pirates planned to use the Philadelphia to attack other ships. To prevent this, American naval officer Stephen Decatur and his crew quietly sailed into Tripoli harbor by night. They then set the captured American ship on fire. In the meantime, American marines landed on the coast of North Africa, marched 500 miles, and successfully captured, with the help of allies, the port of Derna. However, during the fight, the ruler of Tripoli signed a treaty promising not to interfere with American ships.
How the war between France and Britain influence Americans?
American ships faced another problem. Britain and France went to war again in 1803. At first, Americans profited from the conflict. British and French ships were too busy fighting to engage in trade. American merchants eagerly traded with both sides. As profits increased, Americans hurried to build new ships. Neither Britain nor France wanted the United States to sell supplies to its enemy. As in the 1790s, they ignored American claims of neutrality. Napoleon seized American ships bound for England. At the same time, the British stopped Yankee traders on their way to France. Between 1805 and 1807, hundreds of American ships were captured. Needing more sailors, the British navy stepped up impressment, the practice of forcing people into service. In Britain, impressment gangs raided English villages and took young men to serve in the navy. On the seas, British ships stopped American vessels, seizing any British sailors serving on American ships. Many American-born sailors were also impressed. Furious Americans clamored for war.
True or False: Jefferson knew that the small American fleet was no match for the powerful British navy. Like Washington and Adams, he sought a foreign policy that would avoid war.
True
What was the effect of the Embargo Act passed by Jefferson?
Jefferson hoped that an American embargo, or ban on trade, would hurt France and Britain by cutting off needed supplies. “Our trade is the most powerful weapon we can use in our defense,” one Democractic Republican newspaper wrote. In 1807, Jefferson persuaded Congress to impose a total embargo on foreign trade. This meant that American traders could not receive goods from European traders, and American traders could not ship their goods to Europe. The Embargo Act did hurt Britain and France. But it hurt Americans even more. Supplies of imports such as sugar, tea, and molasses were cut off. Exports dropped by more than $80 million in one year. Docks in the South were piled high with cotton and tobacco. The Embargo Act hurt New England merchants most of all. Merchants protested loudly against the embargo. Some turned to smuggling, importing or exporting goods in violation of trade laws. Jefferson began using the navy and federal troops to enforce the embargo. On the border between New York and Canada, some smugglers engaged in skirmishes with federal troops. The two political parties had different points of view on the embargo. Democratic Republicans mostly supported the embargo as a way to protect the country and punish France and Britain. Most Federalists opposed the embargo as damaging to the economy.
What replaced Jefferson’s Embargo Act? What was its influence? Who became president after Jefferson?
In 1809, Jefferson admitted that the Embargo Act had failed. Congress replaced it with the milder Nonintercourse Act. It allowed Americans to carry on trade with all nations except Britain and France. The Embargo Act had decreased support for the Democratic Republican party, as Americans hurt by the policy turned to the Federalists instead. Federalists favored maintaining closer relations with Britain. They wanted to build ties with Britain because Britain was the main trading partner of the United States, and the powerful British navy could protect American merchants. Although the embargo was the most unpopular measure of Jefferson’s presidency, the Democratic Republicans still remained strong. Following President Washington’s precedent, Jefferson refused to run for a third term. Democratic Republican James Madison easily won the 1808 presidential election. Madison hoped that Britain and France would soon agree to respect American neutrality.
